To me, exercise ball exercises seemed like something for older or sedentary people. So I was pretty surprised when I found out my buddy Ray was amped on the idea. Ray is more of a jock than I am and has always been to the extreme in his workouts. For him, an exercise program means jogging, push-ups, sit ups, and lifting weights. I have never known him to be following fads. To see him going in for exercise ball videos was pretty surprising and I wanted to find out more.

I sat down and watched one of the exercise ball videos while Ray followed along on his own exercise ball. It turns out that it had some pretty

useful activities on it. The good thing about exercise ball exercise is that it can really target and strengthen the core muscles. Core muscles strengthen the abdominals and lower back, also known as the power center. This is key to doing Pilates. Ball exercises work on the same principle. Even so, the exercise ball video seemed pretty stupid.To me the exercises looked really easy, and the target audience is not a very athletic bunch (no offense Ray). I was still a non-believer.

It turns out the ball workout videos are very deceptive. In no time I realized the exercises are not easy at all. When you are working out with an exercise ball, you have to use all

of your stabilizing muscles. I kept losing my balance trying to do simple sit-ups while staying centered on the ball. The more I learned the more impressed I was with the concept. The exercise ball videos have all kinds of different workout routines dedicated to different goals. Some of them build strength, while others build endurance or stability. You will find what you need, trust me.

The only thing that they do not help with is cardiovascular fitness, and the exercise ball videos will tell you just that. They say that aerobic fitness is the most important factor in your overall health. Heart disease runs in my family, so I have always been careful to try to keep my

heart in the best shape that I can. Work schedules and family notwithstanding, I have managed to run about four to five times a week. Anything less and I start to feel like a slug. The exercise ball videos have helped by keeping my core muscles strengthened, which fuels a better cardio workout. Be open to the core muscle concept. It’s not new (Pilates developed this decades ago), just new to me. http://www.squidoo.com/JPATT/
PATT is a non-profit, Parents And Teens Together. Check out this lens. The author lives in California and supports PATT from the left coast. Get more tips on staying fit at [http://www.playourplanet.com/workoutroom.com]http://www.playourplanet.com/workoutroom.com. This site has video games, music, musical instruments, sports gear, outdoor equipment, and some great links. Links to college newspapers nationwide on the way! http://www.playourplanet.com